This presentation is free and open to the public.

The University of Rochester River Campus Libraries (UR) is developing a suite of open-source applications, called the eXtensible Catalog (XC), to provide libraries with an alternative way to reveal their collections to users.

With funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the University of Rochester and XC Partners, XC will provide easy access to all library resources, including both digital and physical collections. XC will run alongside a libraryÂs current Integrated Library System to provide more intuitive access to resources, a customizable interface to include Web 2.0 functionality, and seamless connections to other web applications that a library may already be using, such as learning management systems. The XC Project is a collaborative effort between partner institutions that will serve a variety of roles in its development.

Phase 1 of the XC Project is now complete. Phase 2 of the XC Project runs from October 2007 through July 2009.

Background information

Jennifer Bowen is Director of Metadata Management at the University of Rochester River Campus Libraries and a principal investigator for the eXtensible Catalog Project. She has spent her career as a librarian working in the areas of cataloging and metadata, initially as a specialist in music cataloging. In recent years she has focused her work on metadata standards development and served from 2004 through 2007 as the American Library Association representative to what is now the Joint Steering Committee for Development of RDA. Her other professional interests include the FRBR data model, and enabling the use of legacy library metadata in next-generation discovery environments.

David Lindahl is currently a principal investigator on the eXtensible Catalog Project as well as a principal investigator on an IMLS-funded study of graduate student work practices. He has a background in Computer Science with extensive experience in library-related digital research and design projects. David has done research and technology development in a number of areas including library website design, metasearch applications, institutional repositories, and next-generation library catalogs. Recent speaking engagements have focused on topics such the eXtensible Catalog project, and the use of work practice study methodology to inform technology design.

Additional Information

Distinguished Seminar Series lectures generally are available online as PowerPoint and MP3 files shortly after the lecture at http://www.oclc.org/programsandresearch/dss/. Additional information about the Distinguished Seminar Series can also be found there.

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